On a sweltering South Australian day, 40 degree temperatures prompted chief commissaire Mike Turtur to reduce the stage from Unley to Lyndoch by 26.5 kilometres to 118.5. 

Australian sensation Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) won the sprint to the line in 3:24:18, leading home a giant peloton including Tasmanians Nathan Earle, Richie Porte and Will Clarke in 26^th, 38^th and 112^th respectively.

Ewan leads on general classification with the Tassie trio all 10 seconds behind in 28^th, 40^th and 112^th.

Wednesday’s stage is over 148.5km from Stirling to Paracombe and the World Tour race continues until Sunday.

Saturday’s 151-5km leg from McLaren Vale to the top of Willunga Hill has been won for the last three years by Porte and is when Launceston’s BMC team leader and race favourite is again expected to make his major move.

Riding in the new colours of Cannondale-Drapac, Clarke, of Campbell Town won the first prime sprint in the race’s people’s choice criterium.

After three stages of the women’s Tour Down Under, West Pine’s track world champion Amy Cure (Wiggle High5) was 65th overall and Launceston’s Holly Ranson (Mercedes-Benz) 85th.

The race was due to finish with a criterium around Victoria Park.